McCay was part of a delegation of two dozen representatives from Florida colleges and universities on the weeklong Governor’s Business Development Mission to Israel May 24 to June 1.

Organized in conjunction with Enterprise Florida, Inc., the mission included more than 90 people from government, business and academia. The goal is to strengthen the economic, academic and cultural connections between Florida and Israel.

On May 29, Florida Tech and Tel Aviv University entered into a Memorandum of Understanding to pursue faculty and student exchanges and cultural and artistic activities. The two institutions will also seek to collaborate on cooperative research and joint academic seminars.

“Florida Tech is pleased to participate in the Governor’s Business Development Mission to Israel,” McCay said. “As a STEM-centered university that’s home to students from more than 120 countries, we understand the importance of international partnership. Our global challenges require unprecedented collaboration if we are to successfully address them, and it is gratifying to see that the state of Florida is taking a leadership role in building those relationships.”

The trip is the first international trade mission for DeSantis. It will include several meetings with Israeli companies and business leaders, an awards ceremony with the Israel Innovation Authority, a keynote address from DeSantis at the 2019 Israel-American Business Summit, and a meeting with Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

“During this trip, we will affirm Florida as the most pro-Israel state in the nation and strengthen the bond between Florida and Israel for decades to come,” DeSantis said.